Leeds talk to three groups

Leeds are today expected to reveal that they are in preliminary talks with three groups about a takeover of the club.

It is believed that Bahrain Sheik Abdul bin Mubarak al Khalifa is the frontrunner and that neither of the two other groups involve former deputy chairman Allan Leighton.

One of the consortia competing with Leeds fan al Khalifa is thought to be foreigner, although not Russian, and the other home-based group are believed to include Jeremy Fenn, who was the club's managing director under former chairman Peter Risdale.

Leighton is also thought to be preparing a bid for Leeds, who are £83million in debt.

The troubled Premiership club, who hauled themselves off the bottom of the table after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea, are desperate to beat a 19 January deadline to avoid going into administration.

Leeds's main creditors are owed £60m and a player-leasing agent is owed a further £21m.